MIAMI — I’m not one to make predictions, mostly because I’m terrible at them. But if I’m reading the tea leaves right we are due for something special to happen. Because we are either at the end of a six-week stretch (or in the middle of a longer one) that almost defies belief as sports fans, especially those based in New York.
It all began Dec. 4, when it felt like the big news of the day happened early in the day when Zack Wheeler had signed with the Phillies. Within a couple of hours, that was bumped by Daniel Jones’ balky ankle and Eli Manning’s triumphant return to active duty … and by nightfall it wasn’t even the biggest Mets story of the day because here came the news about Steve Cohen and holy cow the Mets are going to be sold!
On Dec. 6, the Knicks finally took David Fizdale out of his misery. On Dec. 9, we learned Le’Veon Bell had decided to deal with his own flu-induced miseries by going bowling on the eve of the Jets’ 22-21 win over the Dolphins three days earlier. On Dec. 10, the Yankees broke their bank and signed Gerrit Cole to a $324 million contract, signaling a distinct shift in power in the American League. It wouldn’t be the last one.
On Dec. 13, the Giants cut an unrepentant Janoris Jenkins after he called a fan a “retard” on Twitter and offered up a non-apology. That’s a full day. Then it was revealed the Mets had reduced their financial commitment to Yoenis Cespedes … and Cespedes went along with it, a head-scratcher since that’s not something you see every day.
On Dec. 15, Eli Manning walked off the field one final time a winner: Giants 36, Dolphins 20.
Luis Rojas; Eli Manning; Kobe BryantCharles Wenzelberg (2), Getty On Dec. 24, the Mets signed Dellin Betances (Merry Christmas, Mets fans!). On Dec. 30, the Giants fired Pat Shurmur (Happy New Year, Giants fans!). On Jan. 1, Don Larsen died at the age of 90, ending a long, fun, happy (and, for one day, perfect) life.
On Jan. 2, burgeoning Yankees ace Domingo German learned he would be serving an 81-game suspension for domestic violence. On Jan. 3, The Post reported Cespedes’ mystery injury had been caused by an encounter with a wild boar. On Jan. 6 …
No, let’s go back a bit. It was a wild boar!
On Jan. 6, the Rangers’ youth movement added another building block when prized goalie Igor Shesterkin was summoned to New York from AHL Hartford. On Jan. 7, seemingly 25 seconds after it was revealed the Giants wouldn’t be hiring their presumed target, Matt Rhule, they named Joe Judge head coach, and New Yorkers amused themselves for three days trying to out-pun one another.
On Jan. 13, MLB announced the scope of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, the team’s manager and GM were suspended, then fired, and a member of the 2017 team, an elder statesman named Carlos Beltran who also happened to be the Mets’ manager, was named as a participant but spared discipline. For now.
On Jan. 14, the Red Sox fired Alex Cora. On that same day, Beltran’s predicament became an almost hour-by-hour obsession in New York. On Jan. 16, Beltran and the Mets agreed to part ways, making it a perfectly Mets equation: a scandal that forced two past champions to fire managers also ensnared the Mets, who managed to get zero championships out of it.
On Jan. 17, Jason Garrett — target of a billion jokes authored by Giants fans the past few years — was named the Giants’ offensive coordinator.
On Jan. 21, Derek Jeter gained entry to Cooperstown — but one vote shy of unanimity.
On Jan. 22, the Mets hired Luis Rojas, big, big news … until Manning announced his retirement about an hour later.
On Jan. 26, Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash.
That’s 54 days, just under eight weeks, and it makes you wonder what’s coming next. Kevin Durant shows up for a layup line Wednesday against the Warriors, then drops 60 on his former team? Cespedes brings the pig to Port St. Lucie? We’ll settle for something like Chiefs 49, 49ers 48 on Sunday.
Vac’s Whacks
No spoilers here, but if you have ever been a fan of “Law and Order: SVU” and happened to miss last week’s episode, trust me, you’ll come for the great storyline and stay because of the great Robert John Burke.
I thought it was awfully sporting of both the Jets and Mets to take ads out in last Saturday’s Post, saluting Eli Manning. Just the thought, true or not, that all our teams get along so well makes us feel just a little like Bedford Falls.
Can you even imagine if Mookie Betts played on one of our teams and the snowball of inevitability regarding a trade for him was speeding down the mountainside?
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and bigger, “Better Call Saul” fans!
Whack Back at Vac
Marc Aronin: The analogy that’s always worked for me, as per James Dolan is: The spoiled kid in the sandbox … who, when he doesn’t get his way, takes his ball and goes home. The difference here is that most 3-year-olds eventually grow up. The owner of the Knicks still, apparently, has not.
Vac: Also … he never actually goes home. He keeps coming back.
Lorenzo Porricello: I live in LA. Kobe was family to everyone. He was an inspiration to men and boys. He even went to communion a few hours before he died. His smile was healing. Yes, we love him, yes, we are broken. He was a real hero in this time of no heroes. The word “grief” doesn’t do it. My heart aches. Thank you.
Vac: Everyone — and I mean it, everyone — I met this week in LA could have given the same exact testimony. I’ve never experienced anything like it.
@MetsBooth: Where are you? 22-21 Fordham at the half!
@MikeVacc: So cute, from the great Chris Majkowski, loyal son of Rose Hill. Alas, the good guys (aka the Bonnies) pulled one out in overtime Wednesday night, 62-55. I may have watched the last 10 minutes from California.
John J. Buro: Jeter. Manning. Bryant. Who could’ve imagined that, in the age of sports mercenaries, three men with
15-plus years of dignified service to a singular team would headline the week that just passed? What a start to the decade.
Vac: I wouldn’t mind having access to a universal rewind button right around now.





